Cost of Living in San Juan del Sur - Updated Prices & Insights

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends around $1,040 per month with rent, or $512 for everyday expenses alone.

A couple spends around $1,663 per month with rent, or $876 for everyday expenses alone.

A family of three spends around $2,285 per month with rent, or $1,240 without housing.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.32 NIO 158

$3.36 NIO 123

$15.40 NIO 564

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.13 NIO 1,213

$24.60 NIO 901

$78.7 NIO 2,883

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 NIO 207

$9.06 NIO 332

Cappuccino

$2.51 NIO 91.9

$1.09 NIO 39.97

$4.05 NIO 148

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.88 NIO 32.30

$0.58 NIO 21.41

$1.39 NIO 51.1

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 NIO 26.63

$0.56 NIO 20.54

$0.83 NIO 30.43

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.44 NIO 52.8

$1.21 NIO 44.32

$3.96 NIO 145

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 NIO 74.5

$1.93 NIO 70.8

$4.07 NIO 149

Milk (1 liter)

$1.18 NIO 43.35

$1.03 NIO 37.67

$1.37 NIO 50.1

White Bread (500g)

$1.53 NIO 56.2

$2.50 NIO 91.7

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 NIO 42.64

$1.84 NIO 67.5

Eggs

$2.33 NIO 85.2

$1.64 NIO 60.2

$3.96 NIO 145

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.84 NIO 287

$4.49 NIO 164

$13.61 NIO 498

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.24 NIO 229

$4.81 NIO 176

$7.19 NIO 263

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.14 NIO 262

$3.04 NIO 111

$10.79 NIO 395

Apples (1kg)

$3.68 NIO 135

$3.36 NIO 123

$5.51 NIO 202

Banana (1kg)

$0.58 NIO 21.35

$0.53 NIO 19.57

$2.14 NIO 78.3

Oranges (1kg)

$1.77 NIO 64.7

$1.47 NIO 53.9

$1.77 NIO 64.7

Tomato (1kg)

$2.18 NIO 79.7

$1.92 NIO 70.4

$2.98 NIO 109

Potato (1kg)

$3.19 NIO 117

$2.19 NIO 80.3

$4.19 NIO 153

Onion (1kg)

$2.15 NIO 78.8

$2.05 NIO 75.2

$2.92 NIO 107

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.00 NIO 36.61

$0.70 NIO 25.48

$1.63 NIO 59.6

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 NIO 39.22

$0.96 NIO 35.11

$1.53 NIO 56.0

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.72 NIO 99.7

$2.53 NIO 92.6

$3.67 NIO 135

Wine (Bottle)

$9.88 NIO 362

$9.77 NIO 358

$14.75 NIO 540

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 NIO 53.6

$1.18 NIO 43.15

$1.73 NIO 63.2

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 NIO 84.5

$1.93 NIO 70.8

$2.41 NIO 88.2

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.66 NIO 60.8

$1.38 NIO 50.7

$2.54 NIO 93.2

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 NIO 60.5

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.93 NIO 254

$5.56 NIO 204

$10.19 NIO 373

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 NIO 49.15

$1.32 NIO 48.41

$1.35 NIO 49.52

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$22.9K NIO 837.1K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.2K NIO 960.8K

$26.6K NIO 973.4K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$60.4 NIO 2,211

$151 NIO 5,529

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$10.59 NIO 388

$6.05 NIO 222

$19.28 NIO 706

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.66 NIO 1,306

$29.71 NIO 1,088

$59.4 NIO 2,176

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.73 NIO 1,126

Cinema Ticket

$8.60 NIO 315

$6.67 NIO 244

$12.14 NIO 445

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$232 NIO 8,493

$118 NIO 4,322

$357 NIO 13.1K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,167 NIO 225.9K

$4,264 NIO 156.1K

$15.2K NIO 557.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$71.2 NIO 2,606

$30.01 NIO 1,099

$90.0 NIO 3,298

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$72.3 NIO 2,648

$39.27 NIO 1,438

$118 NIO 4,333

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$130 NIO 4,777

$78.7 NIO 2,881

$148 NIO 5,403

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 NIO 3,909

$54.3 NIO 1,988

$148 NIO 5,421

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$420 NIO 15.4K

$370 NIO 13.6K

$494 NIO 18.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$389 NIO 14.2K

$150 NIO 5,508

$627 NIO 23.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$931 NIO 34.1K

$655 NIO 24.0K

$1,208 NIO 44.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$771 NIO 28.2K

$344 NIO 12.6K

$984 NIO 36.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$348 NIO 12.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.25

11.75

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the city center costs around $420, dropping to $389 outside central areas. Housing accounts for roughly 121% of the average salary ($348) – well above the 30% international benchmark.

The average net salary is $348 – below monthly costs of $1,040. Most locals rely on shared housing or dual incomes. Remote workers earning abroad will find stronger purchasing power.

Groceries cost around $220 per month for one person. A mid-range dinner for two is priced at $33.00.

Cost Highlights

San Juan del Sur has the 9th cheapest meal at budget restaurant in North America

San Juan del Sur has the 10th cheapest fast food meal in North America

Rice is cheaper than 99% of cities in North America

San Juan del Sur Median Internet Speeds (Updated April 2026)

Mobile

Mbps

Fixed Broadband

Mbps

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

City tags:

Cost of Living in San Juan del Sur - Frequently Asked Questions

Cost of Living in San Juan del Sur offers a balanced mix of value and choice. Local markets and casual eateries let you stretch a budget without sacrificing flavor, while mid-range apartments near the beach or in hillside streets provide comfortable options for longer stays. Utilities and internet tend to be reasonable for a tourist-friendly town, though prices can shift with the season. For longer stays, negotiating rent and choosing longer leases can noticeably reduce monthly costs. A practical plan is to blend self-catering with inexpensive meals and pick a neighborhood that fits your pace and access needs. Tip: Start with a two- or three-week trial in one area to compare neighborhoods before signing a longer rental.

For a typical day, you combine practical errands with productive work time. When searching for housing, start with local listings online, then wander the central beachfront and hillside lanes to assess noise, light, and access. Food options run from budget mercados and pupuserias to midrange cafes with international dishes. Groceries come from mercados and small supermarkets; buy seasonal produce to keep costs steady. Getting around is straightforward on foot for short hops; tuk-tuks and scooter rentals handle longer coastal trips. There are coworking spaces and cafes with reliable Wi‑Fi for work calls. For a sense of San Juan del Sur living cost, observe price ranges across markets and eateries. Tip: set a weekly budget by category and track it.

Quality of life in San Juan del Sur comes from a relaxed pace, access to beaches and outdoor markets, and a growing community of travelers and remote workers. A practical budgeting framework helps you stay flexible: divide your month into housing, food, transport, and leisure, then adjust each category as the season shifts. Save by cooking with fresh, local produce, shopping at mercados, and choosing longer-term rentals with utilities included. Seasonal changes bring busier streets and fuller queues, especially in peak season, so plan around popular weekends and holidays. Neighborhood fit matters: beachfront zones are lively, while hillside lanes offer quieter mornings and sunsets. Tip: set a monthly review date to swap in cheaper options when possible.

For 2026, a single person in San Juan del Sur should plan on about $1,040 per month with rent, or $512 without housing. That covers a moderate lifestyle – food, utilities, transport, and some leisure – at current local prices.

San Juan del Sur is affordable because both rent and daily expenses are genuinely low. Total monthly costs with housing come to just $1,040, making it firmly budget-friendly for residents and long-term visitors alike.

After taxes, the average worker in San Juan del Sur takes home about $348 per month. Of course, that varies a lot by industry and experience – tech and finance pay well above this, while service jobs often fall below it.

Rent is one of the biggest advantages of living in San Juan del Sur – 1-bedroom apartments range from $389 to $420 per month, and even central neighborhoods stay accessible on modest incomes. Cheap housing frees up cash for everything else.

A gym membership in San Juan del Sur runs about $30.73 per month – affordable by regional standards. Most gyms include basic equipment, group classes, and locker rooms. Boutique studios and personal training cost more, but the baseline is budget-friendly.

Private kindergarten in San Juan del Sur costs about $232 per month – a big number for families. Prices vary by curriculum and whether you go local or international. Public options are cheaper where they exist, but waitlists can be long.

$1,200 a month in San Juan del Sur? Very doable. Average costs with rent come to just $1,040, which leaves real room to save, eat out, and enjoy the city without watching every dollar.

San Juan del Sur is a top-tier retirement spot. A budget of $1,561 per month covers housing, healthcare, and daily expenses comfortably. The pace of life is relaxed, medical services are accessible, and the community is welcoming to older residents.

San Juan del Sur is affordable by most measures, which is why it appeals to long-term travelers, remote workers, and budget-conscious residents. At $1,040 per month with rent, it sits well below the global average for cities of similar size.

San Juan del Sur is great for backpackers. All-in costs average just $1,040 monthly, and even short-term visitors on tight budgets can stretch their money. Cheap hostels, affordable street food, budget transport, and free attractions make it easy to explore without overspending.